Couchant lion
Column Base
ca. 1200 (carved)
ca. 1200 (carved)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This lion formed the support for a column the base of which was carved integrally. The weathering of the lion, which is most severe around the head suggests that it was used externally to flank a door or window. The relatively small size of the lion means it is comparable to examples beside the windows in the apses of the cathedrals of Bitonto and Troia and on the façade of the Cathedral at Termoli.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Couchant lion (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved marble |
| Brief description | Marble column base in the shape of a couchant lion, South Italian, possibly Apulia, ca. 1200 |
| Physical description | The lion is carved in one with its rectangular base and the base of the column resting on its back. The head of the lion is turned to its right, and the end of the tail rests on its left flank. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | This marble lion, one of a pair, is heavily weathered, and so would appear to have been originally displayed in an external position, probably as Pope-Hennessy (cat. nos. 10 and 11) suggested, as flanking a window on the outside of the church. Similar lions may be seen in various places Apulia, at Bitonto, Troia and Trani. Apulia seems the most likely place these two lions were executed, around 1200. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This lion formed the support for a column the base of which was carved integrally. The weathering of the lion, which is most severe around the head suggests that it was used externally to flank a door or window. The relatively small size of the lion means it is comparable to examples beside the windows in the apses of the cathedrals of Bitonto and Troia and on the façade of the Cathedral at Termoli. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 324A-1889 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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